Djokovic Extends China Open Streak to 30 Matches
Novak Djokovic defeated Nuno Borges in the China Open first round, extending his unbeaten run in Beijing to 30 matches.
Novak Djokovic began his 2026 China Open campaign with a first-round win over Nuno Borges, securing his 30th consecutive match victory at the tournament. The Serbian star, returning to Beijing for the first time since 2015, defeated Borges 6-3, 7-6 in a match lasting one hour and 50 minutes. Djokovic will play Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete in the second round on Friday, October 2, for a spot in the quarter-finals.
Djokovic saved two break points after a pair of double faults to clinch the first set. He delighted the packed Beijing crowd with an ace to open the very first game. The second set proved more challenging, with Djokovic calling for a medical timeout while trailing 3-2 for treatment on his right shoulder. A physiotherapist worked on him courtside, and he later used his racquet to stretch his back between games. He ultimately dominated the tiebreak 7-2 after opening a 5-1 lead and clinched victory when Borges sent a return into the net. Djokovic finished the match with eight aces and won 88% of his first-serve points.
A historic unbeaten run defined by rare setbacks
During his 30-match winning streak at the China Open, Djokovic has dropped sets to only two players: Fernando Verdasco and Michael Berrer. His last lost set in Beijing was in 2013 against Verdasco. The sequence of those rare setbacks is detailed below.
| Opponent | Year | Round | Set Score Lost | Final Match Result for Djokovic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fernando Verdasco | 2009 | Quarter-finals | 3-6, 6-1, 1-6 | Loss (won first set 6-3) |
| Michael Berrer | 2012 | First Round | 7-6 (7-3) in second set tiebreak | Win (won title) |
| Fernando Verdasco | 2013 | Not specified | 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 | Loss |
Djokovic is a record six-time champion at the tournament. He has not lost a set there since that 2013 encounter with Verdasco.
Next up: a Chinese wildcard with recent momentum
Djokovic's second-round opponent is Bu Yunchaokete, a wildcard entry from China. Bu advanced to the round of 16 by defeating Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in his first-round match. Djokovic holds a perfect 4-0 record against Chinese opponents at the China Open. His previous wins against Chinese players are listed here.
| Opponent | Year | Tournament & Round | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gong Maoxin | 2010 | China Open R32 | 6-1, 6-3 |
| Ze Zhang | 2015 | China Open R16 | 6-2, 6-1 |
| Zhizhen Zhang | 2024 | United Cup RR | 6-3, 6-2 |
| Yibing Wu | 2026 | Wimbledon R128 | 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 |
Physical resilience and crowd support in Beijing
The match against Borges was Djokovic's first victory at any tournament since Wimbledon in July. He was battling physical problems throughout, requiring the medical timeout on his shoulder. Reflecting on his past battles in Beijing, Djokovic noted of an opponent, "He then suffered the same fate as Verdasco in the third set and ran out of steam." Despite the physical toll, his service stats remained formidable. A potential quarter-final against Alexander Zverev looms if Djokovic defeats Bu and Zverev wins his next two matches against Cameron Norrie and either Juncheng Shang or Sebastian Baez. Djokovic will play Yunchaokete Bu in the second round of the China Open for a spot in the quarter-finals on Friday, October 2.
